Co-Creating Sustainable Solutions for Enhancing WEFE Nexus Governance through Stakeholder Engagement

Effective governance of the Water–Energy–Food–Ecosystems (WEFE) nexus requires participatory and systemic approaches capable of addressing interdependencies within complex sociotechnical systems. This study presents a structured and replicable methodology that integrates stakeholder engagement with Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping (FCM) to co-identify and prioritise context-specific solutions. Applied to the Segura River Basin (Spain), the framework combined interviews, multi-actor dialogues and group model building with semi-quantitative modelling, fostering a shared understanding of cross-sectoral dynamics and enabling the exploration of trade-offs and systemic effects. By integrating diverse perspectives and supporting collective sense-making, the approach helps overcome common barriers in nexus governance—such as cognitive overload, fragmented information and power asymmetries. Overall, the methodology contributes to transformative and participatory governance by strengthening reflexivity, cross-sectoral dialogue and anticipatory planning, offering a practical pathway applicable to other socio-ecological contexts.